Trough type hatch operating arrangement



March 30, 1965 w. A. WARHEIT THOUGH TYPE HATCH OPERATING ARRANGEMENT 6Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1965 R m m m WILLIAM A.WARHE|T BY 454M127,afisckwed fizmmtfiwy Ilttys.

March 30, 1965 w. A. WARHEIT 3,175,518

THOUGH TYPE HATCH OPERATING ARRANGEMENT Filed June 4, 1963 6Sheets-Sheet 2 l '11,, III

I l pl ro t\\ m no I O /I a I Q I L f3 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A.WARHEIT I {3BY .fi/wba azmzawdhflwoy Jtt s.

March 30, 1965 w. A. WARHEIT TROUGH TYPE HATCH OPERATING ARRANGEMENT 6Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 4, 1963 R O T N E V m WILLIAM A. WARHEIT BY M,afaowvqd fi/zemmwawfiwy dw l s.

W. A. WARHEIT TROUGH TYPE HATCH OPERATING ARRANGEMENT March 30, 1965 6Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 4, 1963 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. WARHEIT BY,fl/uzmawafi ria March 30, 1965 w. A. WARHEIT 3,175,518

TROUGH TYPE HATCH OPERATING ARRANGEMENT Filed June 4, 1963 sSheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. WARHEIT BY 49M, afieckwamfl/wmawaiflMarch 30, 1965 w. A. WARHElT 3,175,518

TROUGH TYPE HATCH OPERATING ARRANGEMENT Filed June 4, 1963 6Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent 3,175,518 THOUGH TYPE HATCHOPERATING ANGEMENT William A. Warheit, Butler, Pa., assignor to PullmanIncorporated, Chicago, IlL, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 4,1963, Ser. No. 285,274 13 Claims. (Cl. 105--377) The invention isdirected to improvements in hopper cars particularly those of the typeprovided with elongated hatch openings and cover plates permittingsimultaneous exposure of a plurality of aligned hoppers for simultaneousor continuous progressive material filling thereof. More specifically,the invention deals with new and improved operating means for a hatchcover plate especially of the type used with trough hatch arrangementswherein the cover plate is of substantial length.

Cove-red hopper vehicles, such as hopper type railway cars, include aplurality of longitudinally aligned hoppers each provided with materialdischarge portions at the lower ends thereof. In the use of such cars itis of course desirable to maintain at a minimum the time required forloading and unloading. Substantial advances have been made by improvedhopper car designs and among these is the trough type hatch arrangementinvolving the use of a longitudinally continuous hatch opening incommunication with the aligned hoppers at the top portions thereof, thehatch opening being covered by a single elongated plate or cover whichupon removal fully exposes all of the hoppers for simultaneous orcontinuous progressive filling. With this type of arrangement thematerial delivery means, normally in the form of a movable overheadchute, can be continuously moved from one hopper to another along thelength of the car (or the car moved relative to the chute) whilecarrying on continuous material delivery. This arrangement reduces thecar loading time materially as it eliminates the necessity of selectiveand time consuming individual hopper hatch opening.

However, the use of a trough type hatch arrangement involves thehandling of a single hatch cover plate of substantial length. The sizeof the cover plate is such that handling thereof without the aid ofmechanical operating means can be difiicult and time consuming.Furthermore, care must be exercised in the handling of the cover platein order to avoid contamination of the hoppers as well as damage to thecover plate thus possibly interfering with efiicient re-applicationthereof and adequate sealing of the hoppers.

It is an object of the invention to provide new and improved operatingmeans for trough type hatch arrangements, the operating means permittingready and efiicient hatch cover plate application and removal in a newand improved manner.

Another object is to provide a new and improved hopper car of the troughtype hatch arrangement wherein unique hatch cover plate operating meansare mounted within the hatch opening in engagement with the cover platefor mechanical positioning thereof both in the hop per exposed andhopper sealing relations.

Still a further object is to provide new and improved hatch cover plateoperating means providing for positive acting mechanical movement of thecover plate into and out of hopper sealing relation, the operating meansfurther providing for unique cover plate support in both the operativeand inoperative positions thereof.

Other objects not specifically set forth will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the invention made in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a hopper car including a 3,175,518 PatentedMar. 30, 1965 trough type hatch arrangement and the operating means ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the handle and lockarrangement of the operating means of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section of a portion of the trough type hatcharrangement illustrating the operating means in elevation as viewedgenerally along line 3-3 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the operating means as viewedlongitudinally of the trough type hatch arrangement along line 44 inFIG. 6;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective viewing the trough hatch arrangementfrom the top thereof and illustrating the same with the hatch coverplate removed from the hatch opening;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the operating means of the troughhatch arrangement;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the hatch cover plate inraised relation during uncovering of the hatch opening;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section of the operating means of the inventionillustrating a portion thereof in elevation similar to the illustrationof FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical section of a portion of theG operatingmeans taken generally along line 99 in F1 .8;

FIG. 10 is a transverse section of the operating means taken generallyalong line 10--10 in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a composite elevation of an adjustable handle meansattachment forming a part of the operating means.

FIG. 1 illustrates a hopper car 20 including a plurality oflongitudinally aligned hoppers 21, only the end ones of which are shown.The hoppers are of known configuration including converging wallsections terminating at the bottom thereof in material discharge devicesof any suitable type through which material can be withdrawn from thecar either by gravity operation or by pneumatic suction tube equipment.The hoppers are closed off at their tops by side roof sheets 22 and endroof sheets 23 of any suitable arrangement, these roof sheets receivingthereon longitudinally extending running boards 24 located along eitherside of a trough type hatch arrangement generally designated by thenumeral 25. Both FIGS. 1 and 5 illustrate the arrangement 25 ascomprising an elongated, generally rectangular hatch opening defined bya peripherally continuous upstanding sealing rim 26 and a hatch coverplate 27 of configuration conforming to the opening and rim. At spacedintervals along the trough hatch arrangement 25 special operating means28, including the external handle and lock assemblies 29 of FIGS. 1 and2, are mounted for use in controlling operational positioning of thecover plate 27 between the position thereof shown in FIG. 1 in sealedrelation with the rim 26 to the position shown in FIG. 5 in horizontallytranslated relation thus permitting complete access through the hatchopening into the tops of each of the hoppers 21.

FIGS. 3-7 illustrate the basic components of each operating means 28 ascomprising a horizontally arranged drive or gear means 30 extendingtransversely through a portion of the upstanding hatch opening rim 26and projecting into the interior of the trough hatch arrangement intooperative association with a vertically extending rack assembly 31mounted to one side of the hatch opening in depending relation with theadjacent portion of the rim 26. Suitably journalled in the rack assembly31 is a support means in the form of a horizontally extending pivot arm32 which, as best shown in FIG. 6, extends in inclined relationtransversely or diagonally across the undersurface of the hatch cover27. A hatch cover bearing assembly 33 is carried by the pivot arm 32generally centrally thereof and defines a pivotal connection with thecenter portion of the hatch cover 27.

- FIGS. 8-10 illustrate the basic components of theoperating means ingreater detail. The gear means 30 includes a cylindrical gear casing orsleeve 34 suitably fixed to the rim 26 and rotatably receiving therein aspecial pinion gear 35 in inner end abutment with an end plate 36 of thecasing 34 and formed along the inner end periphery with a plurality ofcircumferentially arranged gear teeth 37. As best shown in FIG. 9 theteeth 37 are interrupted circumferentially by an arcuate bearing surface38 which engages the inner surface of the casing 34 and aids instabilizing the gear 35 for rotation therein about its hori zontallyarranged longitudinal axis. Sufficient teeth 37 are provided to permitoperational rotation of the gear 35 through at-least 180, preferablyslightly more than 180 to permit the type of handle locking andunlocking action to be described. This rotational travel of the gear isadequate to impart sufficient vertical movement to the cover plate 27 ofoperation thereof into and out of the sealing engagement with the rim26;

The gear casing 34, as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, is provided with anopening 39 along one side thereof in which is received a verticallyextending sleeve rack 40 forming a part of the rack assembly 31. Therack 40 along an outer side'portion thereof is formed with a pluralityof vertically arranged, horizontally directed teeth 41 meshed with theteeth 37 of the gear 35 for vertical reciprocation of the rack 40 withinthe interior of the car 20. Spur gear teeth of the type illustrated arepreferably used for smooth operation of the elements and it will beunderstood that upon rotation of the gear 35 in a clockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 9, the rack 40' will move vertically upwardly.

The rack 40 is vertically slidably mounted in a guide sleeve or casing42 which includes an opening 43 by means of which the same is fixed tothe gear casing 34 and the gear teeth 37 are exposed to the rack teeth41 for meshing. While the rack 40 is vertically slidable in the guidesleeve 42, rotation of the rack 40 therein is prevented by the use ofhorizontally straight teeth 41 thereon which in turn are meshed withhorizontally extending teeth 37 of the gear 35. In this respect theteeth 41' extend transversely of the longitudinal axis of the rack 40while the teeth 37 extend parallel with the longitudinal axis of thegear 35. The sleeve rack 40 has received therein a vertically extendingpivot shaft 44 including at the bottom thereof a bearing plate 45overlapping the bottom surface of the sleeve rack, and at the topthereof having a similar bearing plate 46 overlapping the top surface ofthe sleeve rack thus confining the shaft 44 from vertical movementrelative to the sleeve rackbut permitting rotational or pivotal movementrelative thereto. The top portion of the shaft 44 has suitably attachedthereto the transversely'extending pivot arm 32 thusproviding a supportfor one end of the pivot arm, which support permits horizontal pivotingof the arm' relative to the sleeve rack 40. With vertical operation, ofthe sleeve rack 40, the shaft 44 and attached pivot arm 32 movetherewith. V V

The pinion gear 35 at the outer end thereof projects from the casing 34with its projecting end being sealed by a suitable annular gasket 47received in an annular groove and in engagement with the inner surfaceof the casing 34. The outer end of the gear 35 is formed with anoutwardly projecting stub shaft 48 receiving thereabout an adjustmentlever 49 forming a part of the operating handle assembly and anoperating handle50 best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6. The handle andlock assembly 29 includes a U-shaped upstanding bracket 51 suitablyfixed to the roof portion'of the car 20 with the inner vertical sideedges of the upstanding leg portions thereof arranged in closeassociation with the inner end of the operating handle 50 to aid inmaintaining the same and the gear 35 in proper operative position withthe gear being held in the gear casing 34. The top ends of theupstanding leg portions of the bracket 51 each have pivotally attachedthereto a cam lock 52 with outwardly projecting portions thereof beinginterconnected by a rod 53. Referring to FIG. 7, each cam lock 52includes a lower fiat locking surface 54 joining an outer end, arcuatelyconvex camming surface 55 designed to ride over the top edge of theoperating handle 50 and cam the same downwardly upon rearward or outwardpivoting of the cam locks 52 into the position shown in broken lines inFIG. 7. The operating handle 50 is arranged for arcuate movement throughapproximately from the hatch cover closing position shown in solidlinesin FIG. 6 to the hatch cover lifting and removal position shown inbroken lines in FIG.v 6. In the hatch cover closed posi tion theuppermost cam lock 52 shown in FIG. 6 engages the adjacent top edge ofthe operating handle 50 to lock the same and prevent rotation of thegear 35. In the openor removed position of the hatch cover the bottomcam lock 52 shown in FIG. 6 then engages an opposite surface portion ofthe handle 50 to prevent return rotation of the gear 35 thus holding thesleeve rack 40 in its raised position.

To release the handle 59 from one of the cam locks 52 it is necessarymerely to lift up on the rod 53 with the result that a camming surface55 will force the handle downwardly and slide across the top edgethereof to release the same. Of course the handle 50 can be forceddownwardly and then the cam lock raised by'lifting the rod 53. When thehandle is moved to the hatch open or closed position it willautomatically move downwardly along the sloping surface portion 56 of acam lock and pivot the same outwardly. Sufiicient downward movement ofthe handle will result in automatic pivoting of the adjacent cam lockback into its overriding locking position by reason of the weight of therod 53.

FIG. 11 illustrates a Variable angular adjustment ar ran'gernent used ininterconnecting the adjustment lever 49 with the operating handle 5b."The lever 49 is suitably fixed to the outer end surface of the gear 35and receives the stub shaft 48 therethrough in projecting relation foruse as a fulcrum point for the end of the operating handle 50. Theprojecting end portion of the adjustment lever 49 includes a plurality"of apertures 57 some of which are arranged in progressively offsetrelation to permit a selection for attachment of the adjust-ment lever49 to the operating handle 50. The operating handle 50 includes a seriesof apertures 58 which can be selectively combined with the apertures 57of the lever 49 to variably angularly relate the ope-ratingh-andle 50relative to the adjustment lever 49. A suitable fastener 59 (FIGS. 2 and6) is inserted through the selected aligned apertures 57 and 58 to fixthe angular-positioning of the operating handle 5t With this particularadjustment arrangement the total arcuate travel of the operating handle59 can be variably adjusted to a limited degree thus controlling thetotal vertical distance of travel of the cover plate 27.

' This particular adjustment arrangement among other things permits racktravel adjustment to accommodate any play or lost motion occurringduring movement of the operating handle 50 through 180 thus assuringadequate raising of the cover plate 27 for clearance thereof relative tothe rim 26 as well as clearance of the pivot arm 32 over the rim 26. v

The car roof in the area of the hatch opening is provided with aplurality of longitudinally spaced and transversely extending stifienerplates 60 best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Each stiffener plate extendsacross the hatch opening from suitable end attachments with the roofsheets 22 on opposite sides thereof. The stiffener plates are ofgenerally upwardly opening U-shape and include along their top exposededges directly across'the hatch opening a curved or convex baflle plate61. Material being delivered into the hoppers through the hatch openingwill be protected from damage by glancing contact with the baffle plates61 and will not engage any sharp edges of the stiffener plates 60. Ofcourse the baffle plates 61 also function to further stiffen the roofstruc ture in the area of the hatch opening and provide means for therigid mounting of the operating means in the hatch opening.

In the car shown in FIG. 1, three operating means are utilized forvertical movement of the cover plate 27. Each operating means 28 as bestshown in FIGS. 3-5 is mounted in association with a stiffener plate 60and baffle plate 61. The rack assembly 31 by means of its guide member42 is fixed to one upstanding edge portion of a stiffener plate 60 andis stabilized by an angle plate 62 which straddles the horizontalportion of the stiffener plate 60, is rigidified and backed-up by thebaflie plate 61 and is shaped to fixedly engage the outer surface of therack assembly 31. This particular arrangement further aids in thestabilized mounting of the gear means as the gear casing and guidehousing of the various components are fixed together as previouslydescribed.

Referring particularly to FIG. 8, the pivot arm 32 centrally thereof hasfixed thereto an upstanding bearing block 63 received a bearing bolt 64therethrough, the bolt extending upwardly through the pivot arm 32 andincluding at the uppermost end thereof a threaded shank portion 65receiving a locking nut 66 thereon to attach the bearing bolt to thecover plate 27. The bearing block 63 includes along the upper peripheralportion thereof an annular bearing assembly 67 of known type whichmounts the pivot arm 32 and the cover plate 27 for relative rotation. Toprotect the bearing assembly 67 from the granular material carried bythe hopper car, a depending sleeve 68 is carried by the undersurface ofthe cover plate 27 in downwardly overlapping relation with the bearingblock 63. The inner surface of the sleeve 68 has mounted thereon anannular seal 69 which continuously engages the adjacent outer surface ofthe bearing block 63 and seals off the bearing assembly 67 from theinterior of the hopper.

The cover plate 27 may be of any suitable configuration preferablyincluding reinforcing plates 7t) and 71 fixed to the central portionsthereof in the areas of pivot arm attachment. The cover plateillustrated is somewhat dome shaped including an outer depending skirtportion 72 carrying internally thereof a continuous gasket 73 whichengages the top rounded portion of the rim 26 to seal off the hatchopening. The pivot arm 32 along the top surface thereof in spacedrelation transversely of the cover plate 27 is provided with a pair ofupwardly projecting pin-like bearing members 74 terminating closelyadjacent to the undersurface of the cover plate 27 and adjacent oppositeside margins thereof. The members 74 aid in maintaining properpositioning of the cover plate as supported by the pivot arms 32 in theraised position thereof thus stabilizing the same against anysubstantial torsional movement relative to the bearing bolts 64 andblocks 63 defining the sole means of attachment of the cover plate tothe operating means.

FIG. 3 illustrates the hatch cover plate 27 in its hatch closingrelation with a cam lock 52 holding down the operating handle inparallel relation with the rim 26. The cam locks 52 each include a carseal aperture 75 aligned with a similar aperture in the upstanding legportions of the bracket 51 (FIG. 2) for use in sealing the entireoperating means for car operation. The pivot arm 32 extends diagonallyacross the hatch opening directly under the cover plate 27 with thebearing members 74 spaced below the cover plate to provide additionalsupport for the same in the event that any concentrated Weight isinadvertently applied to the cover plate to cause bending thereof.Basically the bearing members 74 are designed to stabilize the coverplate when the same is being removed from the hatch opening.

For loading purposes, the cam locks 52 are operated as previouslydescribed to release the operating lever 50 with the same being rotatedthrough approximately resulting in rotation of the gear 35 and liftingof the sleeve rack 40. The pivot arm 32 rises with the sleeve rack 40and operates to lift the cover plate 27 to an extent that the dependingskirt portion 72 of the cover plate clears the rim 26 and the pivot arm32 itself clears the rim 26. The fully raised position of the coverplate is illustrated in FIG. 7. In this position a single operator canpush the cover plate in a horizontal direction to one side of the hatchopening as shown in broken lines in FIG. 7 and as illustrated in PEG. 5.In this position of the cover plate the entire hatch opening isavailable for material loading of the individual hoppers of the car. Thecam locks 52 operate to hold the handle in the cover plate raisedposition and can then be released to permit resealing of the car whichis carried out by a reversal of the procedure described above.

Obviously certain modifications and variations of the invention ashereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit andscope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed asare indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a covered hopper car wherein a plurality of hoppers which arealigned longitudinally of the car are exposed along top portions thereoffor simultaneous loading through a longitudinally continuous hatchopening in communication with each of said hoppers, and a continuoushatch opening cover means extends over said hoppers in verticallydownwardly sealing engaging relation with said hoppers about said hatchopening, the provision of operating means for said cover means, saidoperating means including lifting means mounted in said hatch opening,pivot support means engaged with said lifting means and engaged withsaid cover means, and means extending externally of said hatch openingand cover means and engaging said lifting means to operate the same toraise said support means and cover means from said hatch opening formovement of said cover means on said support means out of coveringrelation with said hatch openmg.

2. In a covered hopper car wherein a plurality of hoppers which arealigned longitudinally of the car are exposed along top portions thereoffor simultaneous loading through a longitudinally continuous hatchopening in communication with each of said hoppers, and a continuoushatch opening cover means extends over said hoppers in verticallydownwardly sealing engaging relation with said hoppers about said hatchopening, the provision of operating means for said cover means, saidoperating means including vertically operable lifting means mounted insaid hatch opening to one side thereof, horizontal pivot support meansengaged with said lifting means at one end thereof and engaged with thecenter area of said cover means at the other end thereof, and meansextending externally of said hatch opening and cover means and engagingsaid lifting means to operate the same to raise said support means andcover means from said hatch opening for horizontal movement of saidcover means on said support means to one side of said hatch opening.

3. The hopper car of claim 2 wherein said lifting means is in the formof a gear means engaged with rack means forming a part of said supportmeans.

4. The hopper car of claim 2 wherein said support means is in the formof a pivot arm including pivot means at the opposite ends thereofdefining at least a part of the end engagement of said support meanswith said lifting means and cover means to permit said horizontalmovement of said cover means.

5. In a hopper car having a plurality of aligned hoppers provided with acontinuous hatch opening which is defined by a continuous upstandingrim, and a single hatch cover plate enclosing said opening with marginalportions'thereof in sealing engagement with said rim, the provisionofwhatch cover plate operating means mounted in said opening andcomprising gear means mounted inwardly of said rim for operation about atransverse horizontal axis, drive means engaged with said gear means andextending through said rim externally of the same, rack means mountedvertically in said opening and in 'engagementwith said gear means forreciprocating movement in said opening, and horizontal cover platesupport means pivotally attached to said rack means for reciprocationtherewith and horizontal pivoting relative thereto, said support meansbeing pivotally attached to said cover plate between the side marginsthereof to provide for vertical'raising and lowering of said cover plateupon operation of said gear means, said support means in the raisedposition of said cover plate permitting horizontal movement of saidcover plate to one side of said opening past the rim thereof.

.6- The hopper car of claim wherein said drive means externally of saidrim includes handle means paralleling said rim and operable through anarc of approximately 180 to drive said gear means. '7. The hopper car ofclaim 5 wherein said drive means externally of said rim includes handlemeans paralleling said rim and operable through an arc of approximately180 to drive said gear means, said handle means being provided withadjustment means to permit variable setting of the angular relation ofsaid handle means relative to the axis of operation of said gear meansto control the vertical travel of said rack means.

8. The hopper car of claim 5 wherein said drive means externally of saidrim includes handle means paralleling said rim and operable through anarc of approximately 180 to drive said gear means, and lock means onsaid car adjacent said handle means and comprising a pair of spaced camlocks mounted on said car for pivoting about an axis paralleling saidhandle means, said cam locks being located in opposite directions fromthe axis of operation of said gear means for alternate engagementthereof with said handle means, each cam lock including a cammingsurface to engage an edge portion of said handle means to hold the samein substantially parallel relation with said rim, and means for pivotingsaid cam locks into and out of handle means locking position.

9. The hopper car of claim 5 wherein said drive means externally of saidrim includes handle means paralleling said rim and operable through anarc of approximately 180 to drive said gear means, said handle meansbeing provided with adjustment means to permit variable setting of theangular relation of said handle means relative to the axis of operationof said gear means to control the vertical travel of said rack means,and lock means on said car adjacent said handle means and comprising apair of spaced cam locks mounted on said car for pivoting about an axisparalleling said handle means, said cam locks being located in oppositedirections from the axis of operation of said gear means for alternateengagement thereof with said handle means, each cam lock including acamming surface to engage an edge portion of said handle means to holdthe same in substantially parallel relation with said rim, and means forpivoting said cam locks into and out of handle means locking position.

10. The hopper car of claim 5 wherein said rack means is in the form ofa sleeve mounted in guide means for vertical reciprocation in responseto rotation of said gear means, said support means including a pivotshaft journalled in and supported .by said sleeve for pivoting relativethereto.

11. The hopper car of claim 5 wherein said rack means is in the form ofa sleeve mounted in guide means for vertical reciprocation in responseto rotation of said gear means, said support means including a pivotshaft journailedv in and supported by said sleeve for pivoting relativethereto, said sleeve including flatted teeth means intermeshing withteeth means on said gear means and arranged to prevent rotation of saidsleeve in said guide means. I I

12. The hopper car of claim 5 wherein said support means is in the formof a horizontal pivot arm extending substantially transversely of saidcover plate in the opening enclosing position thereof, said pivot armincluding longitudinally spaced cover plate bearing means in closeassociation with said cover plate for added support thereof. a

13. The hopper car of claim 15 wherein the pivotal attachment of saidsupport means with said cover plate in cludes a bearing block providedwith a peripherally continuous sealing means protecting the area ofpivotal attachment of said bearing block with said cover plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,899,912 8 /59Jeneczko l05-377 3,019,743 2/62 Stiefel et al. l05377 LEO QUACKENBUSH,Primary Examiner. I

1. IN A COVERED HOPPER CAR WHEREIN A PLURALITY OF HOPPERS WHICH AREALIGNED LONGITUDINALLY OF THE CAR ARE EXPOSED ALONG TOP PORTIONS THEREOFFOR SIMULTANEOUS LOADING THROUGH A LONGITUDINALLY CONTINUOUS HATCHOPENING IN COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OF SAID HOPPERS, AND A CONTINUOUSHATCH OPENING COVER MEANS EXTENDS OVER SAID HOPPERS IN VERTICALLYDOWNWARDLY SEALING ENGAGING RELATION WITH SAID HOPPERS ABOUT SAID HATCHOPENING, THE PROVISION OF OPERATING MEANS FOR SAID COVER MEANS, SAIDOPERATING MEANS INCLUDING LIFTING MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID HATCH OPENING,PIVOT SUPPORT MEANS ENGAGED WITH SAID LIFTING MEANS AND ENGAGED WITHSAID COVER MEANS, AND MEANS EXTENDING EXTERNALLY OF SAID HATCH OPENINGAND COVER MEANS AND ENGAGING SAID LIFTING MEANS TO OPERATE THE SAME TORAISE SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND COVER MEANS FROM SAID HATCH OPENING FORMOVEMENT OF SAID COVER MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS OUT OF COVERINGRELATION WITH SAID HATCH OPENING.